Above all over voices on the sidelines, that doesn't include Northeast head football coach Chad Watson, you can hear either the encouragement or chastisement of quarterback Heath Williams.

Williams is far from shy. Anyone who knows him or follows athletics in Montgomery County has heard his voice.

The Eagles coaching staff and Williams' teammates have heard it enough times. And yet, the program wouldn't have it any other way.

"I don't have to tell Heath anything in that department," Watson said about Williams' leadership after his team's impressive scrimmage against Class AAA power Pearl Cohn Friday. "He was born to lead. It's just in his DNA."

Never will Williams' leadership be more critical than the 2018 season.

Northeast is expected to compete for the region championship, again, this fall and many feel the Eagles have enough to upend perennial region power Henry County. So the expectations are extremely high.

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Northeast quarterback Heath Williams sets to throw the ball on the run during the Eagles' first offensive possession in their scrimmage against Pearl Cohn Friday.(Photo: George Robinson / The Leaf-Chronicle)

"That's what we want," Williams said. "We want high expectations. We want folks to feel like every Friday we have a chance to win a ballgame. That's the way this team should feel. We have talent and we have depth and we have great coaching. We expect to win. That's a good thing."

But how much of that winning falls on Williams' shoulders after throwing for a city-best 2,372 yards and 29 touchdowns last year?

"I'll assume some of that responsbility as a leader," he said. "But people forget there's a lot of leaders on this football team. I'm going to do all I can to be a positive influence on my teammates but I can't do it alone. I don't do it alone."

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Against one of the best teams in the state, Northeast High was impressive in its scrimmage against Pearl Cohn Friday.
George Robinson, USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

The anticipation of a seven, eight or nine-win season for the Eagles isn't far-fetched. With the addition of Rossview transfer Fred Orr, Northeast's backfield is the most talented in Montgomery County. And Williams will have playmakers on the outside, led by Chris Taylor.

But it seems everything funnels down to Williams and his charismatic demeanor. He can be unrelenting in his criticisim but he'll turn around and be the first to praise a teammate for a nice play.

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Northeast quarterback Heath Williams runs for yards against Pearl Cohn during their scrimmage Friday at Austin Peay.(Photo: George Robinson / The Leaf-Chronicle)

"The only thing I've told him is to make sure he's picking up his teammates," Watson said. "He does that. If someone makes a mistake, Heath my get on him but he'll end it with a tap on the head or a pat on the back just to let his teammate know he's got their back."

Northeast seems destined for a playoff appearance. Yet Williams, Watson or anyone else in the program is willing to concede to that conclusion.

"We want to be 1-0 after Aug. 17," Williams said. "That's the goal right now. We'll worry about 2-0 during the second week of the season."

Spoken like a true leader.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.